Hocken. — On Literature in New Zealand. 485 



two countries, and entreating him to become the Protector of 

 the alliance. These are the principal features of the docu- 

 ment, a copy of which I now show, printed by Mr. Colenso. 



In February, 1840, began British government in New 

 Zealand under Governor Hobson. The success of the effort 

 to establish a treaty between the two races hung tremulously 

 in the balance. It was opposed not only by the Eoman 

 Catholic priests, who had landed in the country two years 

 before, but also by the Americans, and less openly by some 

 of our own nationality. Four hundred copies of this " Treaty 

 of Waitangi," as it is called, were printed and distributed 

 ' amongst the natives, and here is a specimen. 



From this time onwards and for a few months occasional 

 Government notices and Proclamations were printed at the 

 missionary press. In the latter part of June, 1840, the New 

 Zealand Advertiser and Bay of Islands Gazette commenced 

 publication at Kororareka, or, as it is now called, "Russell." 

 It was violently opposed to the Government, and attacked 

 the officials with a libellous vigour. In point of time it was 

 the second newspaper issued in New Zealand, and the first to 

 appear in the extreme north, which was then a stirring, busy 

 place, the seat of the infant Government and the expected 

 site of the future capital. It was perhaps with a view of 

 giving a sop to Cerberus that the few official notifications 

 were advertised in its columns. But matters went from bad 

 to worse, and Cerberus not only refused to be appeased, but 

 declined at last to advertise anything of Her Majesty's, a 

 course that to-day no opposition paper, however virulent, 

 would sacrifice its pocket to follow. Recourse was then had 

 to the missionary press, which in December issued a Gazette 

 Extraordinary , No. 1. This was almost the last official work 

 it performed. 



Though digressing, it will be interesting to complete this 

 feature of a story. The Government took speedy and effective 

 measures with the offending newspaper. It suspended it from 

 publication by applying to it the provisions of a New South 

 Wales Act which made short work with troublesome editors, 

 who, if not beheaded, were at least suspended, and that 

 usually meant extinction. The Government then proceeded 

 to issue weekly its own Official Gazette, and, to complete 

 reprisals, in addition to its own advertisements admitted those 

 from the outside public, and gave shipping and general news. 

 Thus it happens that in a Neio Zealand Government Gazette, 

 published by authority, a notice appears that "a few gentle- 

 men can be accommodated with board and lodging, or board 

 only, by applying to Mr. O'Neill, next door to the Russell 

 Hotel, Kororareka." Spiced beef is also offered for sale, and 

 there is a raffle at £4 tickets. It is necessary to add that 



